Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater What size TV should I buy ?

So... don't actually have the money yet but it's becoming clear that I need a larger TV for the new house. I'm currently running the old 27" and have a borrowed 32" in the back of the car (too %$#%^$# heavy to carry up the stairs by myself) but at some point fairly soon I am going to have to get something larger.

The loft area is roughly 21 feet wide and 23 feet deep, with the TV in the center of the 21 foot wall. It's a 1-1/2 story house, so the loft is tucked under the 45 degree ceilings with essentially no walls.

I will almost definitely end up with the piano behind the seating position, so I have something like 10-12 feet from the front of a typical big-screen TV to the main viewing position. I arranged for power and cable runs to a post at the far end of the loft (assuming I would put in a projector) but given the seating distance and the relatively high light levels I'm thinking that a rear-projection TV is probably the way to go.

So... I see recommendations ranging from 1.6x diagonal to 2.25x diagonal for viewing distance depending on the resolution and quality of the TV and content. Assuming I will be running with decent quality DVD most of the time what mult8iplier do you think I should be using ?

10 foot viewing distance and 2.25x multiplier gives me about a 50" RPTV, which is nicely affordable. 12 feet and a 1.6 multiplier gives me around 90", implying a projector, and almost everything in between either needs a projector or a big expensive RPTV.

I am kinda leaning towards a good 50" RPTV, ideally something like a Sony SXRD so I can ooze gracefully into Blu-Ray/HD-DVD... what kind of viewing distance are people using with a 50" TV ?

Thanks,
John

51" x 120" screen baaaaaaaaby, now that is what I'm talkin about.

Yeah, I have this uneasy feeling that I should be planning around something like that... maybe a bit smaller... but I'm going to squirm around looking for alternatives a little while longer

Seating from 9.5 to 15 feet in our family room for 50 SXRD.

My son has 56 Samsung under similar viewing.

I think you hit on the real question I need to answer... am I building a real Home Theater in the loft or is it really the den slash music room ? I'm kinda thinking den / music room with a real HT going in the basement later as funds permit.

Darn it... the builder asked if I wanted to build stepped seating into the foundation and concrete slab... and I said no ;(

I tell ya John, I used to have a 55" HD projection tv, and for big theater experience I'll never go back. If you get a projector that is 720p or above, HD material looks breath taking. I've even had a few friends say it looks better than plasma.

Anyway, we also intend to put a smaller 32" or so LCD tv in the same room for when watching the news and things. For movies and HD bring on the big screen. Also, don't plan to go to the theaters anytime soon.

Check with Dennis, I think he'll be getting a projector/screen soon.

I'm sitting about 12-13 feet from my 60" Sony SXRD. I would NOT want to go smaller!

I vote for the HT in the basment John, and you have enough height to build a raised platform out of wood for the seating thing. In my expieriance and my opinion, the wood floor for seating is better for sub woofers, than a concrete slab. Go with the den/music for the loft.

That would work... M40s in the loft for music and HT in the basement...

I just like the way the loft floor... umm... undulates... when the subwoofer is working hard

Mr Rat!,...We understand!!

We sit 12' from our 65" and it seems to be getting smaller monthly!

....and it seemed so large when we got it!

If it were flat and sat near the wall we'd need an 80" or binoculars

.....or a projector.



And up until about seven years ago, 19" was our standard TV size!!

Yeah, and our TV came over the air and our phone came over a wire....whooda guessed!